The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Chappaqua Interfaith Council

Welcoming All Faiths

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Photo by Grace Bennett/Inside Press

For many, faith and religious practice play an integral role in achieving a meaningful family life, and in fostering a sense of community and purpose. New Castle is welcoming and accepting of all our Houses of Worship and celebrates the diversity of culture and experience that they bring to our area.

New Castle is also proud to have a very active Interfaith Council. Incorporated as a non-profit in 1981, the Chappaqua Interfaith Council provides opportunities for dialogue, learning, social interaction and public service–all motivated by shared core values such as love and a desire to help one’s neighbor, through faith in action. Among its activities is the annual Chappaqua Interfaith Thanksgiving Service and Dinner, held on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This event pulls together hundreds of community members for worship and (free) shared food.

Incorporated as a non-profit in 1981, the Chappaqua Interfaith Council provides opportunities for dialogue, learning, social interaction and public service–all motivated by shared core values such as love and a desire to help one’s neighbor, through faith in action. Among its activities is the annual Chappaqua Interfaith Thanksgiving Service and Dinner, held on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This event pulls together hundreds of community members for worship and (free) shared food.

Bet Torah
60 Smith Avenue
Mount Kisco, NY
bettorah.org

First Congregational Church
210 Orchard Ridge Road
Chappaqua, NY
fcc-chappaqua.org

Our Lady of the Wayside
219 Saw Mill River Road
Millwood, NY
sainttheresa.org

Chappaqua Friends Meeting
420 Quaker Road
Chappaqua, NY
chappaquafriends.org

Grace Baptist Church
12 Orchard Ridge Road
Chappaqua, NY
gbcwpny.org

Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester
220 South Bedford Road
Chappaqua, NY
bethelnw.org

Church of Saint John & Saint Mary
15 St John’s Place
Chappaqua, NY
sjsmrcc.com

Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer
210 Orchard Ridge Road
Chappaqua, NY
https://www.facebook.com/ChappaquaLutheran

Temple Shaaray Tefila
89 Baldwin Road
Mount Kisco, NY
shaaraytefila.org

Church of Saint Mary the Virgin
P. O. Box 380. 191 S. Greeley Avenue
Chappaqua, NY 10514
smtv.org

Mt. Kisco Presbyterian Church
605 Millwood Road (Rt. 133)
Mount Kisco, NY
pcmk.org

Upper Westchester Muslim Society
210 Orchard Ridge Road
Chappaqua, NY
uwms.org

Pleasantville Community Synagogue
219 Bedford Road
Pleasantville, NY
shalompcs.com

 

Chappaqua Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Service and Dinner

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The Chappaqua Interfaith Council will hold its annual Thanksgiving Service this year at Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, 220 South Bedford Road, Chappaqua at 3 p.m. A free community dinner will follow the service. Everyone is welcome. Prayers, readings, music and songs will be performed by members of all the participating faith communities and some guests.  This year the focus of the service will be the celebration of diversity and differences in our community.

The Rev. Canon Alan Dennis of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Episcopal will be the featured speaker.  Rev. Dennis, who was born in South Africa, came to Chappaqua last year after a long career in parishes as far flung as Capetown, where he experienced the problems of apartheid, and Toronto and as close as New York City and Pelham.

This is the twelfth year the Chappaqua Interfaith Council has offered a meal following the service. Over 300 guests are expected to attend. Once again the Kittle House is graciously providing the turkey, mashed potatoes and sides for the dinner.  Other village businesses will be contributing as well.  Community members will also contribute favorite side dishes and desserts.

This year the Council will gratefully accept tax-deductible monetary donations and non-perishable food items for the Northern Westchester Community Center, which provides food, clothing and service to the needy in the area.

The Chappaqua Interfaith Council includes representatives, both lay and clergy, from the following faith communities: Baha’is of New Castle; Chappaqua Friends Meeting; The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Episcopal; First Congregational Church; Lutheran Church of our Redeemer; St. John and St. Mary’s Catholic Church; Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester and the Upper Westchester Muslim Society

For further information, please contact Candie Downing at 914 419-7216 or candiedow9@gmail.com

John Ehrlich, Ellie Loigman Chappaqua Interfaith Council Honored by Chappaqua Rotary Club

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The Chappaqua Rotary gathered in March at its annual Charter Night Celebration at Crabtree’s Kittle House where outstanding community and student leaders were honored and recognized for their contributions in service. Three major awards were presented including the Paul Harris Fellow, named for the founder of the Rotary. This year’s Paul Harris Fellow was awarded to Rotary member and past president John Ehrlich, lauded for his tireless work on behalf of the New Castle community and the Rotary.

(L-R): Don Roane Past President; John Ehrlich receiving the Paul Harris Award/Recognition; and David Shields, President

Ehrlich has been a Chappaqua Rotary member for over 15 years and has worked on many of the Rotary events including leading two very successful blood drives. It was estimated Ehrlich’s efforts brought in in excess of over 1,000 units of blood. During his acceptance remarks Ehrlich noted, “If I can ask you to remember one thing, it’s not about me, it’s about we. It’s not what we have it’s what we can give. And what I love about this club, what I love about each of you is what we can all do together.”

Chappaqua Rotary presented its annual Community Service Award to the Chappaqua Interfaith Council. Club President Dave Shields said this year’s presentation was in recognition of the Council’s efforts to promote understanding, tolerance and acceptance through faith based initiatives.

The members of the council are Baha’I, Chappaqua Friends Meeting, Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Church of St. John and St. Mary, First Congregational Church, Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, and the Upper Westchester Muslim Society.

Representatives of various faiths that participate in the Council, including Jewish, Christian and Muslim congregations were present to receive the Award.

Other dignitaries and community leaders including Westchester County Legislator/Board Chair Michael B. Kaplowitz and Town of New Castle Supervisor Robert J. Greenstein were also present to honor the Council in this particularly relevant and timely mission.

HGHS Senior Ellie Loigman with County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz

Horace Greeley High School senior Ellie Loigman was honored with the Student Jill Goodman Community Service Award. Loigman is the current President of SHARE (Students Have a Responsibility Everywhere), Greeley’s oldest and largest community service organization involved in over a dozen charitable organizations. She also served as the Executive of the Horace

Greeley Scholarship Fund, Chairman of the Spelling Bee (which hosted over 200 participants and raised over $20,000), and as a member of Protégé Cares at Lighthouse Youth Theater that performs at local charity events.

Harvard bound in the fall, Loigman noted during her acceptance remarks, “I look forward to many more volunteer opportunities to come in college. I want to thank the Rotary Club for the award, Ms. Mullen and Ms. Devane the advisers of SHARE for making my experience so rewarding, and the other presidents and members of SHARE who bring so much to Greeley and to the town of Chappaqua.“

“Let there be Peace on Earth”: A Key Message during Chappaqua’s Concert to End Gun Violence

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db_concert-kids

Gun violence has been on our minds for quite some time. On Sunday, September 25, the opportunity to come together as a nation, on the same day, to express frustration with America’s gun violence epidemic and “to rally support for policies that reduce death and injury from gunfire” was realized by The Concert Across America to End Gun Violence.

Hosted by the First Congregational Church in Chappaqua, the Concert mirrored several others which took place all over the United States. The Concert was in partnership with Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, the Town of New Castle, the Chappaqua Interfaith Council, the Upper Westchester Muslim Society, Chappaqua Cares, the Million Mom March Northern Westchester Chapter and with Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester.

Chappaqua celebrity Dave Bickler, from the band Survivor, known for hits such as “Eye of the Tiger,” moved the audience with his renditions of “For What It’s Worth” and “Give Peace a Chance.”
Chappaqua celebrity Dave Bickler, from the band Survivor, known for hits such as “Eye of the Tiger,” moved the audience with his renditions of “For What It’s Worth” and “Give Peace a Chance.”

Local musicians of all ages performed moving instrumental and vocal pieces to underscore this theme. They included the HGHS Madrigal Choir, a trio from the Chappaqua Chamber Orchestra, the Chancel Choir, James Blasdell, Sam Blasdell, Alex Forni, Cantor Star Trompeter and Keith Robellard.

Musical performances were interspersed with secular and faith-based quotes and poems delivered by local dignitaries including Congresswoman Nita Lowey, State Assemblyman David Buchwald , Supervisor Robert Greenstein, Police Chief Charles Ferry and Poetess Shobha Vanchiswar.

Reverend Dr. Martha R. Jacobs led the audience in singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” The Concert echoed both sadness for all of us impacted by gun violence and hopefulness for change as the Town of New Castle came together to engage in this national movement.

Francesca Hagadus retired in 2015  after teaching French and Spanish in the Chappaqua Central School District for 32 years. She lives in Pleasantville with her two sons.